John Calvin Commentary Psalms 31:1

"In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge; Let me never be put to shame: Deliver me in thy righteousness." — Psalms 31:1 (ASV)

In thee, O Jehovah! have I put my trust. Some are of the opinion that this psalm was composed by David, after he had most unexpectedly escaped from the wilderness of Maon; I do not object to this, although it is only a doubtful conjecture. Certainly, he celebrates one or more of his greatest dangers.

At the beginning, he tells us what kind of prayer he offered in his agony and distress; and its language breathes affection of a most ardent nature. He takes it as a ground of hope that he trusted in the Lord, or continued to trust in him, for the verb in the past tense seems to denote a continued act.

He held it as a principle that the hope which depends upon God cannot possibly be disappointed. Meanwhile, we see how he brings forward nothing but faith alone, promising himself deliverance only because he is persuaded that he will be saved by the help and favor of God. But as this doctrine has been expounded already, and will occur more than once, it is sufficient for now to have touched upon it.

Oh! that all of us would practice it in such a way that, whenever we approach God, we may be able, with David, to declare that our prayers proceed from this source: namely, from a firm persuasion that our safety depends on the power of God. The particle signifying for ever may be explained in two ways.

As God sometimes withdraws His favor, the meaning may suitably be: Although I am now deprived of Your help, yet do not cast me off utterly, or for evermore. Thus David, wishing to arm himself with patience against his temptations, would make a contrast between these two things—being in distress for a time, and remaining in a state of confusion.

But if anyone prefers to understand his words in this way, “Whatever afflictions befall me, may God be ready to help me, and from time to time stretch out His hand to me, as the case requires,” I would not reject this meaning any more than the other.

David desires to be delivered in the righteousness of God, because God displays His righteousness in performing His promise to His servants.

It is too much a refinement of reasoning to assert that David here resorts to the righteousness which God freely bestows on His people because his own righteousness by works was of no avail. Still more out of place is the opinion of those who think that God preserves the saints according to His righteousness; that is to say, because they have acted so meritoriously, justice requires that they should obtain their reward.

It is easy to see from the frequent use of the term in the Psalms that God’s righteousness means His faithfulness, in the exercise of which He defends all His people who commit themselves to His guardianship and protection.

David, therefore, confirms his hope from considering the nature of God, who cannot deny Himself and who always remains true to Himself.